Updated, June 28, 5:50 p.m. EST: Despite high presale numbers, publisher Ballantine Books announced Friday afternoon that it has canceled Paula Deen’s multi-book deal, including the upcoming Paula Deen’s New Testament: 250 Recipes, All Lightened Up after “careful consideration”.

Paula Deen’s new book isn’t officially for sale until October 15. Nonetheless, supporters of the much-maligned celebrity chef and (apparently former) TV show host have pushed it to the #1 spot on Amazon’s best-seller list this week.

Amid revelations that Paula Deen used racial slurs and wanted to host a “Plantation style” wedding featuring black waiters costumed to look like slaves, corporations have come to see Deen as persona non grata. The long list of entities cutting ties with Deen in recent days includes the Food Network, Walmart, Target, Smithfield Foods, and the diabetes-treatment drug maker Novo Nordisk.

There’s one place that Deen is receiving plenty of support, however: Amazon.com. Deen’s new book, Paula Deen’s New Testament, was the site’s top-seller on Thursday and Friday, even though its release date won’t arrive until mid-October. In terms of best-selling authors overall, Deen ranked third on the site.

Now it could be that readers have pushed sales of Deen’s New Testament through the roof because they’re beyond excited to be first to check out “250 lightened-up-but-still-delicious recipes” that Deen created after being diagnosed with diabetes. Far more likely, however, is that people who feel Deen has been treated unfairly are voicing their support via book purchases.

It’s quickly become custom to voice political opinions (or just snarky jokes) via Amazon.com reviews—see the sneakers worn by Wendy Davis, the filibustering Texas politician as the most recent example. And while there are no reviews of Paula Deen’s New Testament because Amazon doesn’t allow reviews to be posted before a book is released, the masses have been offering plenty of opinions—and support for Deen—related to her older books.

Paula Deen’s Southern Cooking Bible, published in 2011, was Amazon’s #2 best-selling book as of Friday, and benefited from loads of five-star reviews posted over the past few days. Here’s a snippet from one:

I am buying it in support of Paula Deen and the injustice that has been dealt to her this past week. Let all the Hypocrites that are without sin, and especially those that have never said anything disparaging, hateful, or cruel in their entire life cast the first stone.

This firestorm has been the equivalent of the mob mentality of a modern day lynch mob. Our Judeo-Christian society is based upon the concept of forgiveness or more simply The Golden Rule. It seems that Paula is being punished for admitting an error with honesty.

There are a lot of views in this thread. Lets be clear...history facts such as blacks owning slaves or whites that helped slaves...has nothing to do with this. What a comedian, music artist, or speaker says or doesn’t say has nothing to do with it either. This is about a women who used racial slurs in the work place. A work place where at times employees where treated with disrespect and disgrace. If my boss called me a racial slur, or anything other than what my mother named me in a disrespectful fashion or freely spoke that way around me....please believe I would not stand for it. Just like a women would not stand for sexist jokes from men in the work place. Just like a homosexual would not stand for lesbian or gay jokes from coworkers. And just like someone with a physical handicap would not stand for being treated unfairly when it comes to their right to work and earn a living like everyone else. The employees have every right to bring a lawsuit. And if Paula gets backlash for it it’s her own fault. What's sad is that it went on for so long. I am sure many may of had had fear of losing their jobs to even say anything. Employees have rights, too. Good for them. Anyone being degraded in a way should not just take it. And less we forget...there are white employees who made statements to regarding how black employees where being treated. Wrong is wrong....good for them for sticking together. If you have never been degraded or subject to someone’s dated, prejudice views on a daily bases you probably won’t understand fully how it feels. No one has the right to tell these individuals they should feel any different. I think it is ashame how much back lash Paula is receiving, it’s a sad situation. Who knew this had been going on. She is such a lively person and friendly on tv. Used some bad judgements when it came to the way she carried herself around her businesses though. Maybe she and her brother should have just treated people the way they would want to be treated in the first place. No one deserves to be treated that way at work. It’s just wrong.

Paula Deen, while planning her brother's wedding in 2007, was asked what look the wedding should have. She replied, "I want a true southern plantation-style wedding." When asked what type of uniforms the servers should wear, Paula stated, "well what I would really like is a bunch of little n*ggers to wear long-sleeve white shirts, black shorts and black bow ties, you know in the Shirley Temple days, they used to tap dance around;

Black staff had to use the back entrance to enter and leave restaurant;

Black staff could only use one bathroom;

Black staff couldn’t work the front of the restaurants;

Brother Bubba stated his wishes: “ I wish I could put all those n*ggers in the kitchen on a boat to Africa”;

Bubba asked a black driver and security guard "don’t you wish you could rub all the black off you and be like me? You just look dirty; I bet you wish you could." The guy told Bubba he was fine as is;

Bubba on President Obama: they should send him to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, so he could n*gger-rig it;

He shook an employee (Black again) and said” F your civil rights…you work for me and my sister Paula Deen;

Paula’s son Jaime's best friend managed the Lady & Sons restaurant. He threatened to fire all the 'Monkeys' in the kitchen. When Paula found out…she slapped him on the wrist and suggested that the employee visited Paula's $13,000,000 mansion so he felt special and could be massaged.

I feel Paula Deen, her brother and anyone who treats people poorly should not be given a free pass. I wonder if Paula is truly sorry that she used the "N" word or that she was reported by someone who looks just like her. I appreciate the lady having the courage to report Paula Deen. It's people like her and the videographer who leaked the 47% comments made by Mitt Romney who should be receiving the attention, not Paula Deen.

I think what they are doing to Paula Dean is horrible, ok she may not have used best judgment with the use of the "N" word but that is not the end of the world, and not to mention it was so long ago. I think everyone is overeating and throwing her under the bus for no good reason and destroying her. We are all not perfect and we have ALL said something that was either hurtful or racist at some times in our lives, you may so no "not me never", and if you do your lying... She deserves to be forgiven and to move on beyond this and for all those sponsors who have dropped her it's your loss. You need all the facts on the matter before you snap to your "judgment" of her, you don't know all the facts as to what when who and why that word exited her mouth and in what context it was used.

Lil’ Wayne stomped the american flag just recently and his record label didn't drop him. I guess there are some things that are just accepted and others that are not. Fairness and equality in what each of us cares about has gotten skewed to the point of bizarre.

I think you all need to step back and realize, When you are a public role model you watch your damn mouth. I think its being a bit blown up but does she deserve it, YES. Americans confuse the crap out of me. Your all saying how unfair she is being treated and how horrible the media is being, but if this was a politician that said those things youd all be screaming for them to resign and wanting to tear their heads off. Bit of backwards thinking there?

Paula Deen is a 66 year old woman born and raised in the south. I'm sure she can remember seeing "White Only" signs. Does anyone think for a minute that Sam Walton, from Bentonville, Arkansas never used the N word. Come on now. Just a little note about the white coats and black waiters....In the finest restaurants in New Orleans, Antoines, Court of Two Sisters, Galitoires and Brennans, the all male wait staff uniform is black pants, white shirt, white jacket and black bow tie. It's been the same as long as I can remember. It's history.. it's the south. Bless your hearts, some of you need a history lesson.

Malik Zulu Shabazz- racist black leader of the New Black Panther Party-insulted white people with the C word-instigated blacks to kill white babies- found guilty in court of threatening white voters. Result: Obama and Holder forced the court to drop the case against the N.B.P.P. leader even after he had been found guilty of intimidating white voters - covered up by Obama lackey media.

Khalid al Mansour-racist black Muslim leader- made public speech instigated black people to break the law by murdering white people sadistically- author of the books “Destruction of the Western Civilization” and “The Challenge of Spreading Islam in America“. Result: Accepted by Obama to be his sponsor into Harvard Law School to prepare for his role as a Trojan horse- covered up by Obama lackey media.

Kamau Kambon- racist black leader who calls for extermination of the white people in his hate speech made in Howard University.Result: Obama states that Kamau Kambon makes good points- covered up by Obama lackey media.

The trampling of white racist Paula Dean to the ground for using the N word in spite of her apology while condoning and even applauding the hate speech of black racist leaders calling for murder and genocide of white people is an alarming sign that the black racists will have no shame in committing the ultimate crime of racism while pretending to be against racism.

The black racists in the USA today who fail to criticize the racist black leaders for making hate speech instigating blacks to murder and exterminate white people as they pretend to be anti-racism by bashing Paula Dean for saying the N word are a bunch of shameless hypocrites who are too foolish to understand that the vicious-cycle of racism will mean no peaceful future for their black children.

The Obama lackey media that cover up the hate speech of racist black leaders calling for murder and genocide of white people while pretending to be against racism with their bash-whites-only policy are just as hypocritical as their master.

The white apologists who condemn Paula Dean’s insult against the black people while ignoring the threats of murder and genocide made by black racist leaders against the white people are paving the way for their own destruction and the destruction of their children.

Looking to me they are trying to wipe Deens name off the maps and pages ... A lot of stones being thrown from companies with glass houses ! Why not the push to get obama out of the white house ( for his comments as well as his wife ? Why not chris rock ? surely the makers of the movie Shaft hell lets get all the rich white families who held slaves Oh what about Clearence Thomas you know the Judge

I get a big kick out of the person who bought the book to "demonstrate support for Paula Dean...(who) is being punished for admitting an error with honesty."

Not quite, o virtuous one. She admitted an error under oath, as part of testimony in a workplace lawsuit against her.

But as for you: if you truly believe in the words of the Bible, then isn't what's happening to Ms. Deen part of God's plan? And in that case, how dare you criticize God's plan? Shame on you, non-believer...

When will this media rape of Paula Dean stop? She said a word that I dare say a lot of maybe most of us have said silently in our heads or in private conversation. She did not use the word in public. I am not condoning the use of the word. I wish no one would use it. But the media has simply gone way overboard with the coverage of her mistake.

I don't know what the fuss in the forum is all about- If you support her, her style of cooking, or her attitude, continue to show your support and her sponsors will take note. If you don't, boycott her and she will soon wallow & disappear in the vast mud sea of bad ideas. End of issue.

There is more to this then just Paula
Dean. Enough is enough, If a white person merely contemplates using
the so called N word their entire career can come crashing down
around them. Blacks can and proudly use it everyday and on any
vehicle they wish. They use it laughingly on radio and TV. They
scream it on Hip Hop and Rap. They are not challenged about it at
all. This is reverse discrimination at it's worse. Enough is enough.
To be fair no one, blacks included should be able to market off of
it. Wall-mart, Target or any one else that sells or promotes any
kind of talk or music that contains the N word should be brought to
task. No exceptions. This won't happen as the white people have
become cowards and have come to except any mention of race will label
them as a raciest. People talk of getting the discussion started, but
you can't when the penalty for doing so, can destroy you.

I bet if you cauld get HONEST answers you would find that a MAJORITY OF PEOPLE OVER 50 FROM THE SOUTH HAVE USED THE 'N' WORD. So how come see is being singled out? I don't see any companies dropping the RAPPERS for using the word. A DOUBLE STANDARD?

I will not shop at Walmart or Target or go to Harris and spend my money. I will find other places to do my Christmas shopping

I am so sick of hearing things like this. No one gets on anyone's case when they degrade a white person, but God forbid anyone say one little word about an African American! Well ya know what? I'm not famous or rich so I can say anything I want - I'm a free American and my Mom taught me stick and stones will break my bones, but names will never harm me. Grow up people. She apologized. She was robbed at gunpoint!!! This woman said this years ago and was HONEST about it so what are we teaching here? That we should lie in order to protect our livelihood? Shame on us! This is completely ridiculous and sickening! We are doing to her exactly what we are accusing her of doing with one simple word. She is not a criminal.

Our so-called-Judeo christian society, in the places where such a
framework is preached to the hilt seems to be... "us vs. them" ("them"
being anyone who is dissimilar to one's SELF... domestically and
internationally), supporting the death penalty (surely not something
"Jesus would do"), a highly overwrought preoccupation with firearms, and
similar diverse other hypocrisy. As far as Paula Deen is concerned, I
agree with her implicit contention that none of us are perfect. But
flagrant and constant racist remarks do not just come from "nowhere"...
just saying a racist remark ONCE would make me gag. These are loaded
words that do have real meaning to human beings. If one is a public
figure and also shown to be a racist, there is a price to pay. For the
MOST part, No one wants to be associated with a public figure who
divides humanity in such a way (unless that person is a far Right-Wing
politician, sadly), whether their motivation for parting ways is ethics
or (more pathetically) business concerns. I don't feel that Paula Deen
is a really bad person. She just could not see through certain aspects
of her blinding ignorance, though, and that has come back to haunt her.
Everyday people who hold the same views, and there are many, do not
face similar consequences.

Paula Deen, at some time in the past, said aloud a word that is wrong to
use but is not profane. She expressed aloud, at some time in the past,
thoughts that are unjust to others but not obscene. She did nothing
illegal. Many others,including celebrities, have said and done much
worse and there was no reaction at all. She is being unfairly attacked
and viciously abused even though she has apologized for these actions of
long ago. The only explanation for the treatment she has received is
that her attackers hate her for some other reason. She didn't murder
anyone. She did not assault anyone. She did not steal from anyone. Is
it prejudice of her attackers toward her that make her attackers so
unreasonably punitive?

Shylsome, There's a BIG difference between when White people use these words and when minorities use the same words. I'm a white guy, and most of my friends are black, hispanic, and Brazilian. In my daily occupation, though, I work around mostly white guys... guys who are super-racist. I can tell you that there is a BIG DIFFERENCE between the ways in which these "slurs" are used among my black, hispanic, and Brazilian friends, and the ways in which these words are used among the older white guys I work with every day. BIG DIFFERENCE, with totally different intent and meaning. If an old white lady like Paula Deen is using such words, she's not likely to be saying them in that possible context that emerges out of some mutual feeling of camaraderie among her close African American friends (if she has any!) that would make it even slightly "acceptable." Gimme a break. I know for a fact that I could bust out similar language among my friends because we are close like true blood brothers, but I still don't do it because it just doesn't feel right. The sooner people see that crap for what it is, the better. Paula Deen is paying a price, maybe higher than some of us feel she should, but I personally have no problem with people, entities, corporations, and society, for WHATEVER reason, being intolerant of racism.

@Robert70 My feelings exactly. I think this is a conspiracy somehow by some larger entity that finds her competing in the marketplace and they want her OUT! Doesn't it occur to the American public that Martha Stewart was targeted and now Paula Dean? It's as if women who compete in this industry are attacked for things that have nothing to do with anything really. Think of all of the people they hire and have made rich . Someone wants to take them down personally and is doing a good job. It was well orchestrated for sure. I want to boycott these Companies publicly. Does anyone know how to do that?

The first attack was with her diabetes and now with a comment made 30 years ago. They had to dig deep for that one. Who cares? She has a good product and now it's not available.

So telling your staff "Iw ant little "n*****s dancing around" is ok right? Nothing is wrong with that? Mind you another white women brought allegations against her as well. So its not just black people that have a problem with this. And never mind what other people even say or think. These are her own employees! Not some random guy on the street saying "Paula called me the n-word"

Paula Deen, while planning her brother's wedding in 2007, was asked what look the wedding should have. She replied, "I want a true southern plantation-style wedding." When asked what type of uniforms the servers should wear, Paula stated, "well what I would really like is a bunch of little n*ggers to wear long-sleeve white shirts, black shorts and black bow ties, you know in the Shirley Temple days, they used to tap dance around;

Black staff had to use the back entrance to enter and leave restaurant;

Black staff could only use one bathroom;

Black staff couldn’t work the front of the restaurants;

Brother Bubba stated his wishes: “ I wish I could put all those n*ggers in the kitchen on a boat to Africa”;

Bubba asked a black driver and security guard "don’t you wish you could rub all the black off you and be like me? You just look dirty; I bet you wish you could." The guy told Bubba he was fine as is;

Bubba on President Obama: they should send him to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, so he could n*gger-rig it;

He shook an employee (Black again) and said” F your civil rights…you work for me and my sister Paula Deen;

Paula’s son Jaime's best friend managed the Lady & Sons restaurant. He threatened to fire all the 'Monkeys' in the kitchen. When Paula found out…she slapped him on the wrist and suggested that the employee visited Paula's $13,000,000 mansion so he felt special and could be massaged.

I feel Paula Deen, her brother and anyone who treats people poorly should not be given a free pass. I wonder if Paula is truly sorry that she used the "N" word or that she was reported by someone who looks just like her. I appreciate the lady having the courage to report Paula Deen. It's people like her and the videographer who leaked the 47% comments made by Mitt Romney who should be receiving the attention, not Paula Deen.

For someone toeven say "Im white I can't use it" says a lot. Why would you want, too. I mean do you want a black perosn to hear you say that in public? Probably not. If you are white and your black or hispanic or whatever boss uses slurs against you...they need to be reported and fired. Same goes for anybody else. Bottom line is it doesnt matter what jo blow rapper or comedian says..YOU KNOW BETTER! Worry about yourself and do whats right.People dont deserve to be degraded in such a way at work..period

@SouthAustin Even though slavery ended 150 years ago the left has and does everything they can to gin up hatred in blacks to get their votes. As well as keeping them in a cycle of poverty through welfare. The left is fully responsible for keeping racism alive.

@sickofthebull sharpening their pitchforks for Paula, I guess these people who are SO against racism don't have a problem sleeping at night stirring the "witch hunt" pot----I'm black and this whole issue is disgusting. I hear this word 100 times a day in my house with my teenage sons and their facebook friends. do they apologize, no. more than this, the most disturbing part is the HATRED towards this woman. that's worse than racism, and like I said, I'm black.

Yes, ofcourse. The black and WHITE staff are conspiring. It should be ok to talk to your workers in such a way that it brings back memories of white only restaurants, bigotry, and slavery.Shame on them for not just taking that type if talk!!! Lets all go to work and use every slur and slander in the book. Let's see how long we have a job to go too!

@melinda@Robert70 Exactly.. people should boycott these companies and who exactly again is complaining? all that was exposed was she did use that term and someone lit the fire and all hell broke loose.. She got robbed by gun point and it just so happened to be someone who was African American who robbed her.. hum in the heat of the moment explaining the incident, well, I can see how that word was used but I agree come on that was so long ago let it be and let her continue to prosper with her business ventures

@Charlie468@mrbomb13 I guess you never listen to Rush or you would never make that comment.I listen to his show and I have no idea what you are talking about.. I never heard as much hatred bigotry or racism as I have heard coming from the left..

@MichelleFurstenburg@sickofthebull Thank you so much Michelle for being honest. I'm a white lady with black friends who I hear them say this word often too as part of the culture. I hear it in humor from them, I hear it in general conversation. You are exactly correct. What they are doing to Paula Deen is absolutely horrible. Thank you for being brave enough to tell it like it is! YOU GO GIRL!!!

@MichelleFurstenburg@sickofthebull Michelle i have a question. I have often heard black people use the term Black Power and its suppose to mean pride for who you are and what youve been through. When a white person says white power they are considered a hateful disgusting kkk member or some crap. Why is it black people can be black and proud but a white man using the exact same words is just racist. Im proud to be White, sure we have done bad, but we have done a Hell of a lot of good too. Just wondering how you feel about this ridiculous double standard?

Right, but let's face it... white people can (or should!) be able to take that because we have never been under anyone's thumb in this country. It's one of those subtle things, you know? In my perspective, any white person who cannot take a hit from a comedian in terms of such words is REALLY too sensitive and has no concept of history or present reality. Even my own friends call me a cracka sometimes, but it's all among brothers and means nothing; we're all just talking smack. The "comedian" thing is much the same, really. It all really comes down to context, history, and hard present realities.

@JBD-what happened to innocent until proven guilty here? These are just allegations, NOTHING has been proven with regards to CurrerBell post on here. Do you really think that an employee would stay and endure this kind of treatment? really? In the restaurant business those jobs are a dime a dozen, Servers, Dishwashers, Servers, etc.. those jobs are plentiful, so why stay if you are truly being treated in such a manner? You don't see everyone "complaining" and just how long did this Caucasian woman who filed the suit worked for Paula's restaurant? Perhaps she was written up for something that set her off so she decided to "get even" so to speak.. EVERYONE including her sponsors should wait for her day in court before they take this "allegation" as carved in stone.. like the old saying goes "those in glass houses shouldn't throw stones".. and for all those who are quick to judge her, that's your opinion but lets wait it out and see how it pans out in the legal system and not be so quick to judge.

@ShyIsome Seems like you 're trying to say any Black person shouldn't complain about any White person's offensive words or deeds because a certain subset of the black population uses offensive language and commits misdeeds Actually many black folks, community organizations and churches do criticize the foolishness in the black neighborhoods and do try to find solutions to the problems that tend to happen mainly in low social-economic neighborhoods. When you say we are blowing this out of proportion who do you mean by we? Black people as a whole do not control what is in the news media so i don't know how you can blame black people for blowing this out of proportion. People like to watch train wrecks and what is happening now is a famous celebrity chef's lack of good taste and wisdom in knowing what is offensive to people is causing her corporate partners to sever relations with Paula Deen and is causing her business empire to crash and burn.

@ShyIsome Did you know that blacks owned slaves during the time of slavery. By your argument blacks should not have criticized the institution of slavery until those blacks that owned slaves got their act together and freed their slaves. So i stick to my words and say you don't justify wrong because somebody else is committing wrongdoings.

@ShyIsome@DeCouseauZhoyieerre@pointtothemoon The Paula Deen story is big news because The biggest sponsors in the world have done the right thing and separated themselves from her racist views. I am not black but i must say you seem to have horrible stereotypical views of African Americans. Please expand your music and comedy list, you seem to listen and watch to a lot of lower class entertainment.

@DeCouseauZhoyieerre@pointtothemoon@ShyIsome I think you sir are a tad but in denial when you say a some thuggish black people.. last time i checked the statistics more black males were killed by black males than anyone... so we need to get a grip in our community and stop blowing little things like this out of proportion... I dont see raging articles about the 300 or so black males that have been shot in Chicago??? I dont see black in an uprise about that foolishness. soooo again i stick to my words.. we love to point at other people and say how they treat us wrong when we treat ourselves the worst!!!!!!!!

@pointtothemoon@ShyIsome@pointtothemoon Finally someone hits the nail on the head. People seem to don't understand some words have double meanings depending on context and intent. As Pointtothemoon says any white person who cannot take a hit from a comedian in terms of such word is too sensitive and has no concept of history or present reality. In this country blacks have been oppressed and subjected to inhumanity and injustices for over 400 years. Constitutional rights guaranteed by the Bill of Rights most often didn't apply to the black population. Only just 50 years ago blacks received civil right protections under the law and those are being steadily eroded by the present Supreme court. If blacks go out and public they are subjected to to unreasonable searches and seizures (4th Amendment) by law enforcement because blacks is steadily displayed by the media as dangerous to society. Trevon Martin could not even walk to the store without getting accosted and ultimately killed by someone. The right to bear arms as guaranteed by the 2nd amendment has always been through out history heavily restrictive towards blacks. The 1968 Gun control acts was specifically aimed at blacks because blacks decided to arm themselves to protect themselves from violence that was directed upon them in this country. The Country Intelligence Agencies were used to harass ,disruptive and bring down political civil right groups and individuals( COINTELPRO)). Drug laws with heavy prison times were implemented with the intent on incarcerating a much higher segment of the black population as opposed to the white population. Voting right act laws are being eroded for the purpose of diluting the political power of black people and minorities. So if you are trying to excuse the racism of whites because of the thuggish mentality of some blacks i say shut the f*&^ u*.